Military men and women are lions in human clothing. As individuals, they're fast, smart, agile and strong. As a pride, they're downright cunning. They thrive with a pack mentality, and interdependence is key to their survival.

It should come as no surprise, then, that when they leave the military, what veterans miss most is each other.

"The common thread that binds all veterans is a thirst for camaraderie and community," says Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest organization for post-9/11 veterans.

That thirst is the driving force behind veterans service organizations (VSOs) like the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and the American Legion, which date back to 1899 and 1919, respectively. The congressional charters of these well-known groups explicitly charge them with preserving the shared bonds born of military service.

But the best way to do that now is the subject of much debate in the veteran community, which in the last decade has spawned a new wave of VSOs that are challenging old models.

"In the old days, you had a bricks-and-mortar veterans' hall where you congregated with other veterans. We're turning that old veterans' hall inside-out," Rieckhoff says.

Established in 2007, it helps post-9/11 veterans transition from military life by deploying them on community service projects. Veterans can apply for a fellowship that supports them during six months of daily volunteerism, or they can join one of more than 50 "Service Platoons" that execute individual service projects. In both cases, the programs form a bridge between military and civilian life by allowing veterans to continue using their skills in service of their country.

"There is something special about a person who volunteers to serve in the U.S. military," says Marine Corps veteran Regan Turner, West Coast regional director for the organization. "Whether they deploy to combat or not, they're putting themselves on the line. Once that person leaves the military, they still have that spirit of service inside them. I think that's why you're seeing so many organizations like The Mission Continues and Team Rubicon take off and be successful."

Such organizations leverage the military mindset for service. Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) does the same with exercise. Established in 2010, it initially used athletic events like marathons and triathlons to raise money for veterans. When the organization realized the transformative power of exercise, however, it pivoted. Today, Team RWB operates 155 chapters that organize local meetups for running, CrossFit, yoga, rock-climbing and more.

"As an organization, we exist to help veterans connect with people in their community," says Army veteran Mike Erwin, founder and chairman of Team RWB. "Going through physical experiences together allows them to forge relationships in a very authentic and powerful way. Because whether you're in yoga for an hour and everyone's struggling, or you're running a race and you want to stop, there's always a point (during exercise) when everyone wants to quit. Pushing through that with each other really brings people together."

American Legion member Gary Jenson discusses opportunities for veterans at the Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Chicago. The vintage veterans' group is trying to reach out to younger members, and often collaborates with newer veterans' organizations.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

IAVA similarly fosters community through locally organized gatherings called "VetTogethers." "Instead of being in a veterans' hall, they can be at a baseball game, an ice-fishing event or a bar," Rieckhoff says. "It's a much more dynamic, flexible way of bringing people together."

Sharing Strengths

As their younger counterparts mature, the original VSOs are attempting to evolve in their image.

"We have some posts that are experiencing great success in recruiting younger veterans," says VFW Communications Manager Randi Law, who cited as an example a VFW post in Denver that is organizing veteran yoga classes and hosting veteran art exhibits. "Many of our posts are closing their canteens, setting up game rooms and hosting family nights. They recognize that the younger generation doesn't want to sit in a dingy environment swapping war stories. They want to be engaged and continue working for their community."

Even so, traditional VSOs don't feel the need to mimic new groups in order to remain relevant. Rather, they aspire to complement them.

"These up-and-coming veterans' groups are extremely important, but I think that in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons they turn to the local VFW for the support they need," Law says. "We've been around a long time, so we offer a solid support system in thousands of communities across America."